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  • March 20, 2023
You are here: Home / Arts / Book Review: Hoylake Then & Now

Book Review: Hoylake Then & Now

I’ve previously mentioned a new book penned by local author and historian Jim O’Neil – Hoylake Then and Now. The publishers, The History Press, kindly sent me a copy to read and review here on HoylakeJunction.com.

The 95-page book, one of a series for various locations across the country, features then and now photographs of different areas of Hoylake. Starting at Kings Gap roundabout (which incidentally isn’t the start of Hoylake – that’s further up Meols Drive) the book takes you through Hoylake, presenting Then and Now images for comparison.

If you read my regular Friday Photo series, you’ll enjoy seeing the old photos and to be fair, there are a couple of photos in the book that I’ve also featured on the site.

Along with each pair of photographs Jim discusses the history behind the old image and also gives his view on what the particular area of Hoylake is like today. If you know the Hoylake of today well, then the current narrative will not tell you much that you don’t already know, but the historical narrative will offer you a few tidbits of facts that you’ll find interesting. I didn’t know for instance that football pools pioneer Vernon Sangster was buried in Hoylake cemetery.

As might be expected, the quality of some of the old images isn’t quite as sharp as you’d like, but I know from experience that you can’t expect too much from images that can be over 100 years old.

The book is an enjoyable, easy read. You can order a copy of Hoylake Then and Now directly from The History Press.

Comments

  1. Peter Wilson says

    March 31, 2012 at 4:10 pm

    Was reversing the cover photo intentional?

    Reply
  2. Mike Stone says

    March 31, 2012 at 4:12 pm

    We’ve bought a (signed) copy and it’s an interesting book to dip into.
    Slightly curious about the front cover – we can see it’s a blend of old and new images of the prom at its junction with Trinity Road, but why is it “mirrored”?

    Reply
  3. John says

    March 31, 2012 at 4:16 pm

    Yes, I presume the cover was intending to blend “then” with “now” but it shows a “mirror” image. Some photographic trickery going on!

    Reply
  4. Jim O'Neil says

    April 1, 2012 at 8:04 pm

    You can also order it more lcoally (which I will deliver in Hoylake, signed, without postage) from me at http://www.ceejay.org.uk (postage £2.50 out of area, £5 foriegn) OR you can go into Hoylake Library where you can either buy a (signed!) copy, or borrow one (for free) or even WIN one in their raffle!
    Jim

    Reply

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